Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Amp up your energy return. Made with new supercritical foam midsoles, these HOKA shoes are more responsive than ever. Vibram® Megagrip outsoles give you confident grip for trails of any variety.


Imported.
View the HOKA Speedgoat Product LineView all HOKA Men's Trail-Running Shoes| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 5 |
| Heel Stack Height (mm) | 37.3 |
| Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 33.3 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Upper | 57% textile/43% synthetic |
| Lining | Woven rPET textile |
| Midsole | Supercritical foam EVA |
| Outsole | 100% rubber |
| Rock Plate | No |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 3.4 oz. |
| Gender | Men's |
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Very comfortable with good traction, but I got 3 holes in the uppers starting at 150 miles. By 200 miles the holes let in sand and pebbles so fast the shoes are worthless. Sad to say, but quality has gone downhill for the Speedgoats.
I looked into spending more money than I typically do on running shoes for pleasure and work, so I decided to buy the Hoka speedgoats although I was hesitant due to the price. I’m extremely surprised and disappointed due to the fact they’re already ripping in the toe section. I thought the woven material would be stronger and last longer. They’re comfortable by all means but I can’t justify nor do I encourage anyone to spend this amount of money on these shoes unless you’re just looking to make a fashion statement. I bought these shoes in April and it’s early June and already ripping. I regret spending this money on them and I could’ve bought two nice pairs of Nikes or three pairs asics that last at least 6-10 months. Yes they fit well and I use them for hiking in the woods or and walking on asphalt. No running or jumping.
HOKA as a brand have become my first stop when looking for athletic shoes. While I’ve used many brands over the course of a fairly active life as a runner, triathlete and now a walker and gravel cyclist, these shoes fit me well and support indoor and outdoor activities that also includes just getting around in comfort. I don’t fully take advantage of everything this shoe will do, but it supports everything I want or need to do in comfort and style. It’s only money, and at this point in my life, continuing to be active and fit are a high priority
 I wore these for about 50 miles across two weeks. I ran in very soft and squishy mud and then hard in Rocky Arizona desert. They performed great and they felt great on my feet. But after cleaning them, I found that the tread was separating on the back of 1 foot and the front of another. It looked like it could’ve been a problem with the molding. I understand that the challengers also have an issue with tread coming off the back. I liked the shoe a lot so I am going to return them and try again.
I'm a big Hoka fan and have had many pairs dating back to the original Speedgoats. These just don't cut it. I just returned from a hiking trip in Moab and logged roughly 10-12 miles per day. Don't get me wrong, these are comfortable and I did buy a 1/2 size larger than what I normally wear but my foot was constantly jammed into the toe on downhill areas. I tried relacing / retying but it didn't help at all. Incredibly disappointed in the last two iterations of Speedgoats (6 and 7) as they are nowhere as good as their predecessors. They do have great grip so there's that but just can't handle having my toes hit the end of the shoe at the slightest downhill angle.
I’ve really enjoyed these shoes so far. Four runs in and it is going splendid. Grips well with everything Ive thrown at it. I am concerned about long term durability. Hoka clearly missed the mark here. There is no universe where these will make it to 300 miles. They are super comfortable for my twice weekly 8-10k. Hoka needs to work on the durability problems with this next model in the Speedgoat 8. They also need longer laces to support runners loops, a lace holder in the tongue, and a slightly more padded tongue. Despite the critical feedback, I bought a second pair and wear them far more than my Altra Experience Wild 3+ and Lone Peak 9+. The grip is totally different, and so is the cushioning.
I have a somewhat wide foot and typically have to order a Wide size in most Hoka shoes, including previous Speedgoat models. I just ordered the Speedgoat 7s in a wide. Although the width would have worked, the toebox is very shallow and the upper material is quite stiff. All of which resulted in the upper material pinching down on my foot whenever I walked or ran. That was a deal breaker. Please fix this problem Hoka.
**This is. a review as a faster, toe striking runner** The speedgoat 5 was a favorite, a mountain shoe that has some cushion. The Speedgoat 6 was stiff as a brick and just wasn't it. I thought the Speedgoat 7 would be awesome, it felt responsive and exciting with that mountain shoe DNA. Unfortunately, the upper on this does not allow for any amount of adequate lock down and creates an unstable ride downhill. The grip on this shoe is great as always. This being said the midsole foam is good, it's still years behind other shoe manufactures, but it's soft and has a decent amount of energy return. This shoe kind of feels like it wants to be a La Sportiva Prodigio Pro and I would just shell out the money for those instead.
Was really happy with the grippiness and fit of Speedgoat 6, but the version 7 simply did not fit my feet. Great performance going up on a steep 8-mile hike, but coming down experienced toe bang almost immediately and had sore toes for a couple of days. A longer, steep descent would have been unbearable. Very disappointed since I really like Hokas for road-running, but just wouldn't have worked out. Surprised since I had no problems with Speedgoat 6. In fairness, I'm prone to toe bang on steep descents. Considered trying the wide version, but AI tells me it would not have made much difference.
Shoes ripped on my 5th run. Really disappointed in the quality since it’s not a cheap shoe.


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